Method and apparatus for cleaning hands and the like



p 1965 H. H. WOODWORTH ETAL 3,205,620

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HANDS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 12, 1963IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,205,620 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HANDSAND THE LIKE Harmon H. Woodworth, Los Altos, and Peter M. Newgard,Redwood City, Qalitl, assignors, by mesne assignments, to AmericanSterilizer Company, Erie, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb.12, 1963, Ser. No. 257,928 12 Claims. ((Il. 51-8) This invention is amethod and apparatus for cleaning surgeons hands and arms by a blast orjet of abrasive particles suspended in alcohol. The abrasive particlesdislodge dirt and bacteria which are flushed away and killed by thealcohol. The end result is surgical cleanliness in a matter of secondswith more comfort than the time consuming surgical scrub.

In the drawing, the single figure is a diagrammatic view of one form ofapparatus.

The apparatus has a tank 1 filled to a level 2 with alcohol and havingin its bottom a motor 3 driving an agitator 4, setting up circulatorycurrents in the direction of arrows 5 for maintaining abrasive particlesdispersed throughout the alcohol. These abrasive particles may beplastic, abrasive, metal. The high velocity jets with entrained solidparticles loosen the contaminants by direct momentum exchange and supplythe excess of fluid to carry the dislodged contaminants away. Thirtymesh sand is a convenient abrasive with the particles sizes ranging from.002 to .020 inch in diameter. Three parts alcohol to one part abrasiveparticle-s by volume is a convenient mixture.

The space above the alcohol level 2 is pressurized by compressed gasfrom a compressed gas reservoir 7 connected to the upper part of thetank 1 through a pressure regulating valve 8. The pressure in the gasreservoir 7 is maintained in the usual manner by a gas compressor 9.

The normal concentration of alcohol in the tank 1 is from 60 to 95%ethyl alcohol by weight at room temperature with the balance water. Thisconcentration is maintained by a suitable concentration controller 10which feeds makeup alcohol from a reservoir 11 of 95 alcohol and water.

The pressurized alcohol with the abrasive particles suspended therein isconducted through a conduit 12 and valve 13 and flexible hose 14 to anozzle ring 15 having a plurality of inwardly directed nozzles 16through which jets 17 are discharged. Commercial nozzles which produce aflattened jet may be used. The selection and arrangement of the nozzlesis arranged to provide uniform coverage. The nozzle ring 15 is connectedthrough a shaft 18 to a traverse mechanism 19 which moves the ring backand forth within the Wash compartment 20. A seal 21 is provided for theshaft 18. An arm seal 22 prevents leakage during the washing operation.

To avoid an explosive alcohol air mixture within the washing compartment20, an indifferent gas such as nitrogen is supplied from a reservoir 23through a reducing valve 24.

In use, the surgeon inserts his arm 25 through the arm seal 22 whichinitially positions the fingertips generally within the nozzle ring 15.The valve 13 is then opened and the traversing mechanism 19 started tomove the nozzle ring 15 toward the left. A mixture of alcohol andabrasive particles is discharged in the form of jets 17 against thefingers, hand and ultimately the wrist and arm as the nozzle ringcontinues its traverse. The rate of traverse of the nozzle ring 15 maybe varied in accordance with the bacteria population which is highest onthe hands and fingers and much less on the arms. Although the jetvelocity is high, for example 60 or ice more feet per second, thecomfort level is superior to the presently used bristle brush. Theabrasive particles strike the skin at a high angle of incidence anddislodge dirt and bacteria. The alcohol flushes away the dirt andbacteria and also kills some of the bacteria. The alcohol and abrasivemixture collects in the bottom of the washing compartment 20 and isreturned to the tank 1 through valve 26 and pump 27.

At the end of the washing operation there may be some abrasive particlesadhering to the skin. Accordingly, it is desirable that these particlesbe flushed off with alcohol. This can be done by stopping the agitator3, 4 so that the jets 17 now contain essentially alcohol, although theremay be some traces of abrasive remaining. On the return traverse of thenozzle ring 15, the jets of alcohol flush off any adherent particles ofabrasive.

Instead of 7 minutes for the currently used surgical scrub, the entireoperation can be completed in 30 seconds or less.

The compressed air supplied to the upper part of the tank 1 is notdischarged through the jets 17. It merely serves to pressurize thealcohol or alcohol and abrasive dispersion so that jets of the requiredvelocity emerge from the nozzle ring. This is merely one way ofobtaining the airless blast of alcohol or alcohol and abrasive as thecase may be. Other expcdients for pressurizing the alcohol areavailable. Other apparatus is available to produce a high velocity jetof alcohol and suspended solid particles.

During the washing operation, the surgeon is free to turn and otherwiseshift the position of his hand, arm and fingers to insure completecoverage of the surfaces to be cleaned.

The end result of the cleaning is surgical cleanliness comparable withthat obtained by conscientious use of the currently used surgical scrubprocedures. The results are, however, obtained in much less time andbecause of the possibility of more accurate control, both of thecleaning media and of the operational times, greater uniformity ofcleanliness can be obtained.

What is claimed as new is:

1. The method of cleaning hands and the like having surfaces to becleaned which comprises confining the hand within an enclosure,directing airless jets of alcohol and suspended abrasive particlesagainst said surfaces.

2. The method of cleaning hands and the like having surfaces to becleaned which comprises confining the hand within an enclosure,directing airless jets of alcohol and suspended abrasive particlesagainst said surfaces, and rinsing said surfaces by a blast of alcohol.

3. The method of cleaning hands and the like having surfaces to becleaned which comprises confining the hand within an enclose, directingjets of alcohol with abrasive particles suspended therein against saidsurfaces, and supplying an indifferent gas to the enclosure to preventan explosive mixture within the enclosure.

4. The method of cleaning hands and other surfaces which comprisesconfining the hand Within an enclosure, discharging jets of alcohol andabrasive particles suspended therein against said surfaces and thendischarging jets of alcohol against said surfaces to flush away adherentparticles of the abrasive.

5. Apparatus for cleaning hands and arms comprising an enclosure havingan arm seal through which a hand and the desired portion of the arm tobe washed may be inserted into the enclosure, a nozzle ring within theenclosure surrounding a local portion of the hand and arm, a source ofalcohol and suspended abrasive particles under pressure connected by aconduit to said ring, 'noz zles on the ring discharging jets of alcoholand suspended abrasive particles toward said local portion, and meansfor moving the ring along the hand and arm to expose different portionsto the jets.

6. Apparatus for cleaning hands and arms comprising an enclosure havingan arm seal through which a hand and the desired portion of the arm tobe washed may beinserted into the enclosure, a nozzle ring within theenclosure surrounding a local portion of the hand and arm, a source ofalcohol and suspended abrasive particles under pressure connected by aconduit to said ring, nozzles on the ring discharging jets of alcoholand suspended abrasive particles toward said local portion, means formoving the ring along the hand and arm to expose different portions tothe jets, and means for supplying an indifferent gas to said enclosureto prevent an explosive mixture within the enclosure.

7. Apparatus for cleaning hands and arms having surfaces to be cleanedcomprising an enclosure having an arm'seal through which a hand and thedesired portion of the arm to be washed may be inserted into theenclosure, and means for directing airless jets of alcohol and suspendedabrasive particles against said surfaces.

8. Apparatus for cleaning hands and arms having surfaces to be cleanedcomprising an enclosure having an arm seal through which a hand and thedesired portion of the arm to be washed may be inserted into theenclosure, means for directing airless jets of alcohol and suspendedabrasive particles against said surfaces, and means for directing anairless blast of alcohol against said surfaces for rinsing.

9. The method of cleaning hands and the like having surfaces to becleaned which comprises confining the hand within an enclosure,directing airless jets of alcohol and suspended solid particles againstsaid surfaces to loosen contaminants by direct momentum exchange and toflush away the dislodged contaminants.

10. Apparatus for cleaning hands and arms having surfaces to be cleanedcomprising an enclosure having an arm seal through which a hand and thedesired portion of the arm to be washed may be inserted into theenclosure, and means for discharging airless jets of alcohol andsuspended abrasive particles against said surfaces and then dischargingjets of alcohol against said surfaces to flush away adherent particlesof the abrasive.

11. The method of surgically scrubbing surgeons hands and arms havingsurfaces to be cleaned which comprises confining the hand and arm withinan enclosure, directing airless jets of alcohol and suspended abrasiveparticles against said surfaces to loosen contaminants by directmomentum exchange and to flush away the dislodged contaminants.

12. Apparatus for surgically scrubbing surgeons hands and arms havingsurfaces to be cleaned which comprises an enclosure for confining thehand and arm, means for directing airless jets of alcohol and suspendedabrasive particles against said surfaces to loosen contaminants bydirect momentum exchange and to flush away the dislodged contaminants.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,825 7/28Haase.

1,910,497 5/33 Peik' 518 2,114,573 4/38 Rhodes 5l32l 2,200,587 5/40Tirrell 518 2,399,680 5/46 Keefer 51--321 2,952,859 9/60 Alcamo 15-212,955,387 10/60 Soderman 51-8 3,084,484 4/63 Hall et al. 51-8 LESTER M.SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

JOHN C. CHRISTIE, Examiner.

12. APPARATUS FOR SURGICALLY SCRUBBING SURGEONS'' HANDS AND ARMS HAVINGSURFACES TO BE CLEANED WHICH COMPRISES AN ENCLOSURE FOR CONFINING THEHAND AND ARM, MEANS FOR DIRECTING AIRLESS JETS OF ALCOHOL AND SUSPENDEDABRASIVE PARTICLES AGAINST SAID SURFACES TO LOOSEN CONTAMINANTS BYDIRECT MOMENTUM EXCHANGE AND TO FLUSH AWAY THE DISLODGED CONTAMINANTS.